Historic Hood River
Fashion Livery
Notes
It’s been a while since I shared an image of the Fashion Livery stables on Front Street. This one is labeled “about 1900”. The stable has electric lights running down the middle overhead, so it must be after 1904. [Correction: Downtown Hood River had electricity as early as June 1901. See comments for discussion.]
Early automobiles may have required frequent visits to the mechanic to keep them on the road, but at least they didn’t need someone to care for them when they were parked overnight.
Whoever captured this interior image knew what they were doing. I have digitally enhanced the contrast and tone, but they did a wonderful job illuminating this large space.
Check out that large beam to the right. We know this building burned in a spectacular fire in 1929. This view gives some idea why the fire was so big.
Tags: 1900s, electricity, Fashion Livery, Front Street, horse, livery, stable
kalley
What a great picture. I'd loved to be there taking care of such beautiful horses!
M.M.
Wow, those are some well cared for horses.
Kenn
Wonder when roof trusses came into vogue to replace posts. I find still existing early car repair garages with the innovation, it added turning space not previously required..
Arlen L Sheldrake
and the horse stood very still
L.E.
The bracing of the beams is quite interesting.
Because of its beauty, I would say the horse is perhaps a stallion, but I don't think a stallion would be allowed to run loose. That could create havoc.
Can you imagine walking through here with a kerosene lantern?
nels
Love all your horse (and farm animal) pictures. They were the cars of the day.
Kevin
The image is great. It leaves nothing to the imagination but can you imagine the sound inside? Hoofs on the wooden floor and echoes of the whinnies and neighs?
LMH
Arthur, During week of November 12 ,1900 incorporation papers were filed in the country clerks office for Hood River Electric Light, Power and Water Co. The incorporators were E. E. Savage, N.C. Evans, C. A. Bell and Lesile Butler.(With a bunch of drivers like this how could they not be successful.) By January the group had blown up the city council and had ordered poles, dug a ditch, ordered dynamos and turbines and were building a power plant. February 1st they were engaged in “planting” poles and taking contracts to wire businesses and residences. The city was negotiating for electric street lighting. The dynamos and turbines arrived in late May, 1901. The air was electrified with the talk of the new electrical system. The juice was turned on June 14, 1901. The old town would never be same as on June 13. Those were heady days.
LMH
Arthur, all the Fashion Livery photographs show electrical connections. My guess is the owners immediately saw the safety feature value in having electric lights as opposed to lighting by kerosene lamps or other such devices. The Mt. Hood Hotel was one of the original purchasers of electricity in 1901 and I suspect Fashion Livery was not fall behind.
In 1904 H. C. Stranahan bought one quarter block for $4,000 and then he added an 18 foot wide addition full length on the west side.
The Hood River Plumbing Shop was constructed just to the west of the stable in July 1904. In December 1904 Norton and Smith bought the business. So I think Stranahan just absorbed the building since he owned the land.
ArthurB
Thanks for the research LMH. I guess my understanding of early power sources was incomplete. The June 14 1901 Glacier reports power initiated June 8, 1901 at 8:43PM. The source is unclear. The November 9 1905 Glacier reports the new hydro plant on the Hood River went into service November 1, with the start of 24 hour service scheduled for November 12, 1905.
L. E.
Are we looking at the Fashion Stable on Front St. or First and Oak St.?
ArthurB
Good question L.E. I did some research and found the Front Street building was constructed in 1911. The same year the old “barn” was sold to the Bells, who owned the Mt. Hood Hotel. This is several years later than I thought. I'll need to take another look at some of these photos and reconsider the dates and location.